University prepares Olympic Village

The Royal Holloway University is putting the final touches to its Olympic athletes’ accommodation.

A total of 1,400 competitors are planning to stay on the campus this summer and will largely be involved in the rowing and canoeing events at Eton Dornay on the River Thames.

Melanie Loizou from the university told BBC News: “We are really looking forward to it. It’s amazing to be part of the biggest sporting event in history.

“We will also be bringing in additional overlay for the accessible bedrooms that we will need during the Paralympics and putting the finishing touches to the village and making it feel part of the Olympics.”

It is not only the athletes that are looking for good quality accommodation this summer and it is expected that demand for central London hotels will be high once the Games begin in July.

Organisers of London 2012 are also arranging for special spaces in Hyde Park and Victoria Park to be opened to the public so that the Games can be viewed by as many people as possible. Sponsored by BT, visitors will be able to see the Olympic action on large screens throughout the event this summer, while Trafalgar Square will be the live space during the Paralympic Games. There are also smaller live spaces across the city being set-up, including locations within Woolwich, Potters Bar and Waltham Forest.

Eton Dornay Lake will provide the backdrop for many of the water-based events and has been upgraded to provide a 2,200 metre rowing course as well a number of warm-up lanes and facilities. After the Games, the venue will remain one of the top rowing facilities in the world and will continue to hold major events.

Be sure to get the Guaranteed Best Available Rate when you make your hotel reservation at www.montcalm.co.uk.

If, during the next 24 hours, you find a lower publicly available rate for the same hotel, room type and reservation dates on another website, please submit a claim form and we will match the competing rate and give you an additional 10% discount. Terms and Conditions apply.